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Chapter 20
«Easy,Tom.»Masoothedhim.«Easy,Tommy.Youdonegoodonce.Youcandoitagain.»
«Yeah,an’afterawhileIwon’thavenodecencylef’.»
«Easy,"shesaid.«Yougottohavepatience.Why,Tom—uspeoplewillgoonlivin’whenallthempeopleisgone.Why,Tom,we’rethepeoplethatlive.Theyain’tgonnawipeusout.Why,we’rethepeople—wegoon.»
«Wetakeabeatin’allthetime.»
«Iknow.»Machuckled.«Maybethatmakesustough.Richfellascomeupan’theydie,an’theirkidsain’tnogood,an’theydieout.But,Tom,wekeepa-comin’.Don’youfretnone,Tom.Adifferenttime’scomin’.»
«Howdoyouknow?»
«Idon’knowhow.»
TheyenteredthetownandTomturneddownasidestreettoavoidthecenter.Bythestreetlightshelookedathismother.Herfacewasquietandacuriouslookwasinhereyes,eyeslikethetimelesseyesofastatue.Tomputouthisrighthandandtouchedherontheshoulder.Hehadto.Andthenhewithdrewhishand.«Neverheardyoutalksomuchinmylife,"hesaid.
«Wasn’tneversomuchreason,"shesaid.
Hedrovethroughthesidestreetsandclearedthetown,andthenhecrossedback.Atanintersectionthesignsaid«99.»Heturnedsouthonit.
«Well,anywaystheynevershovedusnorth,"hesaid.«Westillgowherewewant,evenifwegottocrawlfortheright.»Thedimlightsfeltalongthebroadblackhighwayahead.
